Inserter for placing molded cheese in containers



June 27,1933. y M. @ERE 1,915,489

' INSERTER FOR PLACING MOLDED CHEESE IN CONTAINERS Y Filed MaICh 19, 1931 l E ZI gwuento/o Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATESl PATENTy oFFlcr.

CLAIR H. Gm OF BELFAST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NIATUBAL CHEESE CORPORATION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Y r mmm FOB PLACING MOLDED IN CONTAINERS Application led. Hatch 19, 1981. Serial No. 523,898.

This invention relates to inserters for placin molded uncured cheese masses in. contalners of the valve-vented type, or the like, in which the curing of the cheese takes place in the nal container in an atmosphere of the carbon dioxide generated by the cheese in curing, and from which container as much air as ossible must be displaced by the cheese mass, 1n lilling the container so las to avoid dilution of the carbon dioxide, since the latter gas is depended upon as a sterile enveloping medium to prevent the growth of undep sirable bacteria in oron the cheese.

For eicient air exclusion, it seems essential that the container should be of substantially uniform cross-section and that the uncured cheese shall be molded in such shape and size as to snugly t the walls of the container. A cheese mold capable of producing masses ,o of cheese such as are contemplated in connection with the present invention is disclosed in my application 520,685 filed March 6, 1931.

On account o the rubbery nature of uncured cheese, the molded mass spreads somewhat upon being pressed into a container its own size,engag1ng the sides of the container and forming a piston, entrapping a cushion of air beneath, so that in the absence of the device of the present invention or some equiv- 39l alent apparatus, it is impossible to get rid of this air cushion oi' to forcev the cheese to the bottom of the container.

,y They object of the present invention is toA provide an inserter which shall guideI the molded cheese mass into the container and at the same time vrovide an outlet for the air displaced as'the c eese mass descends.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing in which the samecharacters of referenceA have been employed throughout the several figures are to designate identical parts.

Figure l is a side elevation showing the inserter being applied to a molded cheese mass.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a container showing the cheese mass and the soinserter being placed within the container.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, viewed upwardly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the mouth of a valve-vented jar, the cheese bein shown in snug-fitting position within sai jar.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inserter.

' Referring now in detail to the several figures, the 'numeral 1 represents a molded mass of uncured cheese. In this stage it has a rubbery and somewhat spongy characteristic, being capable of some deformation, and springing back into its original shape when the deorming influence has been removed. The inserter 2 is shown partly telescoped over the molded cheese mass. The inserter in the present illustrative embodiment comprises a cylindrical band or ring 3 from which depend a plurality of fingers 4. The' inserter, together with the fingers, is shown in inverted position in Figure l, this bein the preferred manner in which it is applie to the cheese mass.

The internal diameter of the ring 3 is the same as the external diameter of the mass of cheese which it encompasses and substantially the same as the internal diameter of the jar or other container into which the cheese massis to be inserted. While it is contemplated that the container shall be cylindrical, it is permissible to make it slightly convergent but of such size that there is some intermediate point at which the cheese mass will snugly fit against the sides of the con- 8 tainer. y

. The fingers 4 are shown as being slightly trough-shaped with their concave sides adjacent to the walls of the container so as to define therewith conduits when the inserter, together with the cheese mass, is inserted into the container. The lingers 4 are preferably suiciently long to reach to the'bottom of the container and are preferably resilient so as to resist the tendency of the cheese to expand radially when subjected to endwise pressure. 4

In operation, the inserter is slipped upon the cheese mass indicatedin Fig. 1 until the uppermost end of the cheese is approximatel in the same plane as the u means such as the follower 6 shown in Fi spaced parallel ure 2, and as'the cheese descends the air c ion beneath it esca upwardly through the conduits 7 formed tween the fingers 4 and the walls of the container. The lower ends of the fingers are preferably formed with notches 8 aording potive communication between the air space beneath the cheese mass and the conduits. When thecheese mass has reached the bottom of the container,the follower is kept pressed down upon it while the insertar is wlthdrawnr preferabl by= the operator takin hold of the As the inserter is wi drawn, the cheese exands radially to occupy the space vacated y the fingers. Q v

Figure 2 shows-that the container may be slightly conical, aring somewhat towardl the uper end.` This is a permissible shape since t e air in the wedge-shaped annulus between the cheese and container is pro. gressively expelled b the radial expansion ff the cheese under e pressure of the fol' ower. After the'inserter has been withdrawn the cheese should uniformly enga the walls of the container not only at the ttom but all around. It is permissible to leave a very slightspace such as is shown at 10 in Fig.

l4 between the cheese and the lid ofthe container. Upon the first evolution of carbon dioxide, the air in this space will be expelled through the valved vent inthe lid.

It is, of course, understood that after the container has been filled, the lid is crimped' thereupon in gas-tiggit manner and that the pressure generated y the evolution of the carbon dioxide is relieved through'the valved lvent 11. Thisvent opens to internal pressure but closes to pressure from outside so that atmospheric air cannot enter.A

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the details of construc-V tion as shown and 'described are merely exemplary and not to be construed as limitative in their bearin upon the scope of the invention as claime What I claim isi v D. Inserter for placing a molded cheese mass 1n a container which it snugly fits comprising resilient fingers and a support including a frame from one end of which said iin rs longitudinally extend, said fingers being isposed so as to project radialy flange 

